This is a very interesting question because actually I
don't think that Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley do change. They seem to stay as sweet and
naive and loveable as they started out. Consider Mr. Bennet's opinion of his daughter's
engagement to Mr. Bingley, which, albeit ironically, offers a shrewd assessment of their
characters and how much they have not changed:
"I have no doubt of your doing very well
together. Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying that
nothing will ever be resolved on; so that every servant will cheat you; and so generous
that you will always exceed your
income."
As is shown, they
always loved each other, even in spite of Miss Bingley's interference. No, if you want
characters who definitely change in the novel, you need go no further than Mr. Darcy and
Lizzie Bennet, who offer ample examples of change and maturing. It is interesting to
remember that Jane Austen originally called this book First Impressions, and as such it
is a chronicle of how two main characters counted first impressions and judged each
other on that basis. If you are looking for quotes, you need go no further than Chapter
58, when Lizzie and Mr. Darcy take a walk. Consider this revelation from Lizzie
regarding her openness:
"Yes, you know enough of my frankness to believe
me capable of that. After abusing you so abominably to your face, I could have no
scruple in abusing you to all your
relations."
What is
interesting here is that Lizzie is admitting that she was in the wrong in her treatment
of Mr. Darcy. She, in other words, has learned to overcome her prejudice and has
realised that her first impressions were wrong, just as she was wrong about her first
impressions of Mr. Whickham.
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